DCIM100GOPRO

GRANTS PASS – A game-high 15 points from Roseburg senior Hayden Luttrell wasn’t enough to get the Indians over the hump in a closely contested conference game against Grants Pass on Tuesday. The Cavemen led nearly wire-to-wire in a 46-41 win, but never held more than a seven point advantage over Roseburg.

The Indians scored first to take a 2-0 lead, but Grants Pass (7-12; 3-7 SWC) responded with a 5-0 run to put the score in the Cavemen’s favor. Roseburg (7-13; 2-8 SWC) tied the score twice in the first quarter before taking a 10-9 on a 3-pointer from Owen Cuilty. The one-point advantage was the last time Roseburg led Grants Pass. The Cavemen moments later took an 11-10 lead on a fall-away shot from Brandon Hoy and Grants Pass kept Roseburg at bay the rest of the contest.

The Cavemen took their biggest lead of the game at 35-28 to the start of the fourth quarter. Roseburg rallied back with an 8-2 run and cut the score to 37-36 on a hook-shot from JD Fairbairn at the four minute mark. Grants Pass stretched the lead back to a two-possession game, but the Indians got back to within two points with under two minutes to play.

Roseburg failed to capitalize on chances to tie or take the lead down the stretch and the Indians were forced to foul to conserve the clock. Grants Pass made Roseburg pay by hitting 5-of-7 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Luttrell was Roseburg’s lone scorer in double figures. JD Fairbairn added seven for the Indians. Sophomore Tyler Rund led Grants Pass with 10 points, but no other Caveman player reached double figures.

The loss is Roseburg’s third consecutive and fifth in its last six games. The Indians will try to snap that streak against South Eugene at home on Friday.

RHS  10; 7; 11; 13 – 41

GPHS 11; 9; 13; 13 – 46

R: Hayden Luttrell 15; Fairbairn 7; Cuilty 6; Patoine 6; C. Stone 5; Paschke 2; Lucido; Eagan

GP: Tyler Rund 10; Wallace 8; Reed 8; Hoy 8; Valadez 5; Musser 5; Crume 2; Appling; Phillips

– Joey Keeran | joey@bciradio.com | @joeykeeran